Operated with Support from the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) Inaugurated at a new station in Majdal Shams a new Ambulance.
A ceremony was held on August 29th for the inauguration of a new MDA station in Majdal Shams. With the support of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, a new ambulance donated by the Myron-Ginsburg families and Michael Commers from the United States through the American Friends of MDA was put into operation.
At the new station, MDA teams will be able to provide a broader and more professional medical response for the residents of Majdal Shams, nearby communities, road users, and visitors to Mount Hermon. The dispatch point facility was allocated to MDA with the assistance of the head of the Majdal Shams Council, Dulan Abu Salah.
The ceremony was attended by Dulan Abu Salah, head of the Majdal Shams Council; Colonel (res.) Sufan Mrih, Emergency and Security Director at the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews; Gil Moskowitz, MDA Deputy Director General of operations; Ronen Bashari, MDA Operations Department Director; Oren Avitan, MDA Yarden District Manager; Netanel Azulai, MDA Golan Heights District Manager; station staff and volunteers; and the families of the victims of the missile attack at the football field in the council.
At the new station in Majdal Shams, over 130 volunteers work, including about 22 MDA youth volunteers who are saving lives in the northern region and working to strengthen it during the war. One of the MDA staff members at the station is Adam Safady, a senior EMT at MDA. Adam has worked at MDA for 17 years, and he is a dedicated and professional worker who lost his daughter, Yannis, last month when a missile hit the football field in Majdal Shams. Adam arrived at the field to search for his daughter and found her lifeless, yet he continued to treat the injured and managed to save lives.
Adam’s story of heroism is one of many that demonstrate the great strength of MDA staff and volunteers in both routine and emergency situations. The new ambulance which was donated, will strengthen life-saving efforts in the northern region and provide medical security for its residents in both routine and emergency situations.
The operation of the ambulance is supported by IFCJ, which has long supported Magen David Adom with projects to reduce response times, provide emergency medical services, assist with placing defibrillators in public areas, and more. Since the beginning of the "Iron Swords" war, IFCJ has donated 5 bulletproof ambulances and assists in operating three mobile intensive care units at the front line.
The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews was established in the United States in 1983 by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, z"l, with the aim of fostering friendship, understanding, and coordination between Christians and Jews regarding their mutual interests in support of Zionism and Israel.
Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein served as the organization’s president until his passing in 2019. The current president is his daughter Yael Eckstein, who has been active in the organization for 14 years. IFCJ contributes significantly to MDA for the health of Israel's residents.
Dulan Abu Salah, Head of Majdal Shams Council: "The addition of an ambulance to Majdal Shams, which will respond to calls from residents in the entire area, is a crucial, life-saving step, especially following the severe disaster in Majdal Shams. It is so meaningful to initiate actions that will heal the deep wound we have suffered. On behalf of the community in Majdal Shams, I thank the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews for their generous donation and MDA for their response and dedication to operating the ambulance for the benefit of all the region's residents."
Colonel (res.) Sufan Mrih, Emergency and Security Director at IFCJ: "We are pleased to be part of strengthening the civilian home front and are happy with our partnerships with MDA to provide and strengthen essential medical services for residents in peripheral areas. The operation of the ambulance at the MDA station in Majdal Shams, just a few meters from the severe disaster that occurred there, is especially moving."
Oren Avitan, MDA Yarden Regional Manager: "Thank you very much to IFCJ for helping us continue to save lives and strengthen the areas in need. An ambulance is a crucial asset, especially in times like these, to continue providing medical security for the region's residents. We will work to strengthen every point from the northernmost to the southernmost to shorten response times and assist every citizen in need."
Eli Bin, MDA Director-General: "IFCJ has been supporting us for years and has helped us greatly. Just a few hours ago, we inaugurated a new intensive care unit operated with the help of IFCJ in the Hatzor Haglilit Council, and soon we have more projects planned to be operated with the Foundation's assistance in other northern communities. Thanks to their extensive activities, we can continue doing what we do. The Foundation's work helps us operate MDA stations, shorten response times, and improve our medical services, and I thank them very much. Thank you very much to the esteemed head of the council, Dulan Abu Salah, for assisting in allocating the building for the new dispatch point and recognizing its high importance. Thank you very much to the generous donors whose significant contribution is commendable and will help us continue saving lives. And of course, I appreciate the dedicated volunteers and staff working in the area and contributing greatly to saving lives."
